Text Size

Hillary Rodham Clinton vowed to push on, perhaps several more months, in hopes of an eventual victory at the Democratic National Convention in Denver in late August.
AP Photo

Sen. Chris Dodd (D-Conn.), an Obama supporter and a former general chairman of the party, told National Journal that party leaders need "to stand up and reach a conclusion."

Another Obama backer, 2004 Democratic nominee Sen. John F. Kerry (D-Mass.), said on ABC’s “This Week”on Sunday: “I think the superdelegates ought to decide early, perhaps earlier than July. … Every day gives John McCain the opportunity to build momentum for the general election.”

Describing the mood in Washington, a top Democratic strategist who supports Clinton said: “There’s a little bit of a deathwatch going on. Instead of, ‘Who’s going to win?’ the chatter is, ‘How’s it going to unfold?’”

The strategist added: “There is general panic among Democrats. The big question is: Does she walk to the door, or is she shown to the door?”

The reason some Democrats believe Clinton needs to be escorted from the race is not that they dispute her claims that the race is agonizingly close. It is that they see few scenarios in which she can finish the primary calendar ahead in elected delegates or the popular vote. By this logic, denying the favored candidate of African-Americans — the party’s most loyal constituency — if Obama is ahead could rupture the party.

Clinton is not moved by these claims. Close advisers to her emphasized over the weekend that she is going nowhere — not simply as a matter of politics but of personal temperament. Like her husband, she is constitutionally averse to quitting.

What’s more, her public argument that she is the more electable candidate is only a pale version of her private thoughts and those of Bill Clinton. They firmly believe that Obama is unready to face a general election or, if he wins, a presidency that would follow.

For now, her party is hoping that the public pressure on her to step aside will create a backlash that will further fire up her most zealous supporters, especially women.

“The more she can let this threat hang over the process, the more leverage she has,” a former Clinton administration official said.

On Friday, Obama was talking about the nomination race in the past tense. “There are some people who felt like: God, when is this thing going to be over?” he said at a Pittsburgh rally. “It’s like a good movie that’s lasted too long. But the truth is that this has been a great campaign, a great primary season. It’s been hard, it’s been tough.”

But wary of the possibility that pushing Clinton out could backfire, he has begun saying calmly that she’s free to stay in as long as she likes.

And she may take her time, vowing in a Washington Post interview on Saturday to stay in as far as the convention: “I know there are some people who want to shut this down and I think they are wrong.”

See Also

A senior adviser to Clinton argued at length that the race is still very much in play.

“The press corps seems to have it in their mind that this race is done,” the adviser said. “Either you guys can’t count or you want it done.”

The adviser asserted that the campaign is gaining traction with its argument that Obama would have electability problems in the fall and might weaken other Democrats running on his ticket.

“It is our read that many of the remaining superdelegates are increasingly concerned about whether or not — as attractive a candidate as he is, as strong as a spokesman as he is — is this guy going to be carrying our district? I don’t think many candidates are looking forward to the Republican ad where ... his minister is saying, ‘God Damn America.’

“People are making [individual] calculations,” the adviser added. “They don’t know which way to jump.”

In the past 10 days, however, Clinton has steadily lost ground. Democrats’ private grumblings became public warnings.

It started March 21, when New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson — who was appointed to two Cabinet posts by Bill Clinton — endorsed Obama after holding off when it would have helped him most, right before the Hispanic-rich Texas primary.

Three days later, in what some Obama strategists believe may eventually be seen as the death blow, Clinton had to admit she had repeatedly exaggerated when claiming to have landed in Bosnia under sniper fire as first lady. It was an unnecessary gilding of the lily, tainting video of her in a military setting that otherwise would have been very positive.

In another indignity, Sen. Robert P. Casey Jr. (D-Pa.), who had vowed to remain neutral, joined the Obama bandwagon on Friday.

Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) did the same on Sunday.

This gathering momentum has forced the Clintons into Hail Mary arguments, causing even some confidants to wonder about their logic or real aims. Bill Clinton recently pointed out that she was ahead in the popular vote in primaries, as opposed to caucuses — essentially saying she’s ahead in contests she has won.

“They’re trying everything, and nothing is sticking,” said a Clinton family adviser. “It is possible she’s trying to leverage all this into a spot on the ticket.”

Readers' Comments (1028)

I have a question that is based in logic so bear with me. If we are not counting FL and MI shouldn't the total delegates needed to win the nomination be reduced as well since those delegates can't be counted in the total available delegates? FL has 210 and MI has 156 for a total of 366. Total needed is 2025 minus 366 = 1659. If you split that # in half 2025-183 the number needed is 1842. Now we could have a winner prior to convention.

It's been a great campaign. Barack and Hillary have awoken the American spirit for debate, exchange, and participation. It has been at times nasty, but not fatally so. But is time to bring it to a close. Hillary should withdraw. Let her know here: http://www.dropouthillary.org

her great experience argument has turned out to be a sham; her ready at 3 am phone call has been obliterated by her BOsnia moment; she would NOT be running at all if she had not been married to Bill Clinton; she is whiney; polarizing; nasty; a liar; *****y and selfish; I dont want a woman like this to be my president; I would welcome another woman with qualities befitting a president ie Margaret Thatcher, GOlda Meier, etc. this is nonsense that women want her...not all women agree

I have a question that is based in logic so bear with me. If we are not counting FL and MI shouldn't the total delegates needed to win the nomination be reduced as well since those delegates can't be counted in the total available delegates? FL has 210 and MI has 156 for a total of 366. Total needed is 2025 minus 366 = 1659. If you split that # in half 2025-183 the number needed is 1842. Now we could have a winner prior to convention.

Good Point..but who knows Maths there.....

I think delegates from FL and MI should be divided to keep ppl from FL and MI happy. Give 65% of FL to Clinton and share 50:50 in MI...BO will still win. That is for sure.

You got to wonder why the american taxpayer is on the hook for $60 million per democrat and republican convention plus "protection" which a classifed expense number, if conventions are not for selecting a candidate but to pimp your candidate.

What ever happened to 'count every vote'. If the superdelegates push Hillary out before the rest of the primaries, that will create a backlash from her supporters. That will help McCain. On the other hand, if the sniping continues with the charges back and forth in the weeks before the rest of the primaries, Clinton and Obama will bloody each other badly. That will help McCain. It's a damned if you do, damned if you don't situation.

The Florida and Michigan delegates were subtracted from the total delagates to arrive at the number 2025. The formula would be (Total Delegates from all states - Florida - Michigan)/2 + 1. If Florida and Michigan were counted then the total needed would be higher than 2025

Yes, let's tell the voters of Pennsylvania, Indiana, West Virginia, Oregon, South Dakota, Guam, North Carolina, Kentucky, Montana, and Puerto Rico that their voices are nullified, quashed, and ultimately usurped by the Democratic party elders. Let's let the bigwigs tell the people of these states who played by the rules that their votes are as worthless as Florida and Michigan. While the party elders are at it, they should come up with some new party names for all the factions that will break lose from the self-defiled Democratic party.

I have a question that is based in logic so bear with me. If we are not counting FL and MI shouldn't the total delegates needed to win the nomination be reduced as well since those delegates can't be counted in the total available delegates? FL has 210 and MI has 156 for a total of 366. Total needed is 2025 minus 366 = 1659. If you split that # in half 2025-183 the number needed is 1842. Now we could have a winner prior to convention.

Your assumption is premised on an illogical scenario. The reason Florida and Michigan will be seated is quite clear--to do otherwse will result in McCain winning the Presidency. To think less would be arrogant and myopic. The DNC knows this and has been trying to work a sideline deal.

Yes, let's tell the voters of Pennsylvania, Indiana, West Virginia, Oregon, South Dakota, Guam, North Carolina, Kentucky, Montana, and Puerto Rico that their voices are nullified, quashed, and ultimately usurped by the Democratic party elders. Let's let the bigwigs tell the people of these states who played by the rules that their votes are as worthless as Florida and Michigan. While the party elders are at it, they should come up with some new party names for all the factions that will break lose from the self-defiled Democratic party.

I've got to give Scarborough credit when he told his broadcasters to let the votes take place or watch the base who are sponsoring/voting for Clinton turn on the Democratic Party.

All it takes to win is roughly 5% of the Democrats to vote Republican.

Hillary threats of convention fight is a danger much less to Obama than to Democrats on the ballot this fall.Any convention fight is a solid weapon in the hands of the Republicans seeking relection or fresh election this fall. If these superdelegates stay quiet while Hillary destroys the Democratic party their own very polittical future is at stake. How can Hillary issue threats upon threats yet supers remain silent .Does the Cliton family own the party? Are the Clintons cine quo nom to Democratic Party? For the records Im not an Obama supporter as of now but Hillary is a danger to the demoratic Party. If positions and roles were reversed I dont think Mr Obama would still be still counted as a candidate at this level? Why not the Clintons? How can a party be destroyed because of one family and one election. How would Clinton want nomination to given her against the will of the people? Is this not tantamount to the destruction of the Democratic Party? Im just ?wondering aloud at how the Clintons control this Party.By issuing threats!